I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Intermediate Spanish II

2. Course Prefix & Number:
SPAN 2404

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 4

Lecture Hours: 4

Lab Hours: 0

4. Course Description:

This course follows SPAN 2401 in sequence of grammar acquisition. Review begins with the present subjunctive formation and uses. Continued emphasis will cover reflexives, Ser/Estar, passive voice, perfect tenses, and the introduction of imperfect subjunctive. Grammar practice and the perfecting of language structures is emphasized. Vocabulary will reflect upper level constructions, idioms, words frequently confused and cultural variances. This course is also designed to promote communication in the target language. Graded level readers provide reading practice, grammar review, vocabulary building and cultural reference. Role play, videos, newspapers, magazines and native speaker guests serve as a basis for class discussion, enhanced reading, listening, and comprehension skills. MnTC Goals 6 and 8

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

Reading College Level CLC or Reading College Level

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

8. Prerequisite (Entry) Skills:
Students should be able to demonstrate appropriate comprehension and speaking skills equivalent to the novice-high through intermediate-low proficiency level on the ACTFL guidelines within the first week of the course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

Bemidji State University, SPAN 2212 Intermediate Spanish II, 3 credits
Normandale Community College, SPAN 2200 Intermediate Spanish 2, 5 credits
Metro State University, SPAN 302 Intermediate Spanish II, 4 credits
St. Cloud State University, SPAN 430, 432, or 433, 3 credits

2. Transfer - regional institutions with which this course has a written articulation agreement:

3. Prior Learning - the following prior learning methods are acceptable for this course:

• Advanced Placement (AP)
• CLEP
• Demonstration

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

A.A. Liberal Arts, Spanish Transfer Pathway
Latin American Studies Certificate

2. MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:

• Goal 6 – Humanities and Fine Arts
• Goal 8 – Global Perspective

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate oral communication skills	Ask and answer basic conversation questions presented in the various verb tenses, with the appropriate vocabulary, presented in a full sentence response.
Demonstrate written communication skills	Write complete sentences, matching verb/person/tense as required, demonstrating ability to match nouns and adjectives, and utilize proper word order.
Demonstrate reading and listening skills	Read at the intermediate-graded level with accurate pronunciation, intonation and moderate fluidity; repeat sentences and/or take accurate dictation, as well as answering basic comprehension questions about the reading.
Discuss/compare characteristics of diverse cultures and environments	Identify specific cultural vocabulary, mannerisms, historical events relating to the Spanish-speaking countries.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Discuss a wide variety of topics;
• Ask and answer a variety of questions that require elaboration and substantiation of opinions;
• Discuss feelings and ideas about self and others;
• Compare, contrast, express and support opinions and make suggestions and recommendations;
• Analyze selected reading materials;
• Identify the main idea and demonstrate understanding of significant details of authentic materials;
• Demonstrate understanding of written and spoken Spanish on a wide variety of topics in any time frame;
• Write formal compositions for a variety of purposes;
• Describe and analyze political, economic, and cultural elements which influence relations of states and societies in their historical and contemporary dimensions (MnTC Goal 8);
• Demonstrate knowledge of cultural, social, religious and linguistic differences between the target culture (products, practices and perspectives) and the student’s own culture on topics such as the environment and other contemporary issues in society (MnTC Goal 8);
• Understand the role of a world citizen and the responsibility world citizens share for their common global future (MnTC Goal 8);
• Discuss and analyze contributions of cultures such as selections from various literary genres and fine arts (MnTC Goal 6);
• Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within a historical and social context (MnTC Goal 6); and
• Articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities (MnTC Goal 6).

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

Major Content

1. Social/ Cultural Themes
• Present selected works of literature, art, music, et, in cultural and historical context.
• Present selected current and historical issues and events in comparative and historical perspective.
• Present cross-cultural differences and similarities, worldviews, beliefs, attitudes, values, et
• Assign analysis of the above in class discussions and written form.
2. Grammar and Structures
• Review of grammar and structures from Intermediate Spanish I (including present, preterit and imperfect tenses, present progressive tense, object pronouns, present subjunctive mood, adverbial conjunctions which affect mood, future and conditional tenses, and other grammatical points).
• Perfect tenses, the past subjunctive mood, formation of the passive voice, relative pronouns, false cognates (or Spanish verbs which tend to confuse English speakers; such as dejar/salir or realizar/darse cuenta), verbs with prepositions, use of infinitives and tense sequences. (Other points will vary somewhat depending on current events and student needs.)
3. Vocabulary
• Review of vocabulary from previous levels.
• Vocabulary related to new cultural themes.
• Vocabulary for written exposition, such as expressions for causation, transitions, etc.
• Vocabulary for critical thinking and discussion in the language, such as expressing disagreement, discussing consequences, requesting clarification, circumlocution, et
• Themes may include: technology, science, medicine and healing, the economy and employment, popular culture and means of communication, literature and art, politics and religion, and history and civilization.
• Analysis of different forms of the same root word, cognates, et
• g.Strategies for effective communication, including vocabulary choice when using a dictionary or online language tools.
• 4.Writing
• Writing for various purposes.
• Critical thinking and self-editing skills.
4. Reading
• Variety of literary genres and authentic materials.
• Strategies for determining meanings, such as using contextual and grammatical clues, cognates, previous content knowledge, prediction, logic, and knowledge of the genre.
• Literary and sociohistorical analysis.
5. Oral Communication (interpersonal, intrapersonal and presentational)
• Speaking for various purposes and about a variety of themes.
• Strategies for changing topics, expressing opinions, agreeing, disagreeing, telling stories, et
• Strategies for circumlocution and negotiating meaning.

NOTES:

Cultural themes are taught contextually, with special reading units that highlight history, indigenous culture, holidays, peoples, universal themes within the humanities and other topics as per the text and current events.

Listening:  Instructor gives topical lecture and/or plays authentic audio/visual content from various sources. Students answer questions in English and/or write a paragraph on what they understood (in English to assess comprehension, or in Spanish to assess communication ability).

Graded level reader: Choose book(s) with culture, conversation, and comprehension/vocabulary exercises, somewhat contextualized, at an intermediate-mid to intermediate-high level. 

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions